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I find myself in another stretch of 3 races in 3 weeks, so I best get to writing this blog before it's already time for the next race!  As many of you know, this is my first full season with my "pro" card and, believe me, this was not how I pictured this season going in my offseason fantasies!  But God has his own plans and I have to say I have learned a lot about myself as an athlete and a person this season.  Despite all that, racing slower than last season when I'm racing the big dogs in the pro field left me with unwanted tagalongs: demons.  Voices that would whisper to me as I slipped into the pool for my swim that I was too slow, voices that taunted me during bike workouts saying I would never be good enough and voices that knowingly told me I don't belong during track practice.  I was able to smile at those demons after Chicago and tell them that I love this sport and don't care what they thought.  The demons were quieter, but they were still there.  I was 2 minutes slower at Chicago this year than last year, and although I know it had everything to do with my illnesses and injuries this season, my demons continued whispering.

After Chicago I decided, for some insane reason, that I was going to outrun my demons at the Boyne Triathlon.  I had already smiled in their faces, but this time I was going to outrun them.  I have no idea why I thought this was a good plan.  I was tired from racing Chicago and my hip ached more than ever the week leading up to Boyne.  I could hardly sit still for more than 10 minutes because sitting causes pressure in the front of my hip where the labrum is injured.  But I wanted to go for it and, as my husband and family can tell you, I am extremely stubborn.  Like, worse than a team of mules stubborn.  

Race morning rolled around and I checked the weather report, which said winds at 5mph.  Apparently no one told the wind.  When Todd and I arrived in transition the wind was blowing off the lake hard, whipping the water into a frenzy with some lovely white caps.  I was very thankful it was wetsuit legal at 64 degrees because I wanted the flotation of my Xterra Vendetta full sleeve suit!  The announcer called for the Elite Wave participants... and a whole 2 of us stepped to the start line.  Myself and a super nice male pro who had introduced himself to me before the race, William Jones, were the only ones signed up for the Elite division.  My heart sank a bit; it is much harder to have a good swim when I will be all by myself for the entire swim.  Oh well, better learn to push myself!  We also started with a very nice paratriathlete, an incredible woman who races for the TriToFinish team.  

We waded out into the water, lined up 3 across and got ready to start.  They gave us a quick countdown and then the horn went off and I dove in.  My first few strokes felt good and I took off fast, but then I moved past the break wall and got slammed in the face by a wave.  And then another and then another.  I quickly realized the constant onslaught of waves was from the wind and this would be how it would be until I hit that turn buoy.  I hunkered down and tried to remember form, but inevitably I would time a breath wrong and suck down lake water.  That first turn buoy felt very, very far away.  I rounded the buoy and took a second to gather myself and point myself in the right direction, then took off with the waves at my back.  The next turn buoy came too soon!  Then I was crossing the bottom of the triangle with the waves bashing my right side and throwing me off course.  I mentally angled myself to the right, which helped to keep my course straight to the buoy.  I braced myself as I rounded the buoy for lap number 2 into the wind.  I was a little better prepared this time and lifted my head higher for breaths or held my breath and waited until a wave had passed.  I swallowed less water the second time around and seemed to reach that turn buoy faster, then turned to the next buoy and surged forward, picking a path through the sprint athletes.  I did better with the bottom of the triangle as well, angling myself early so I held a straight line. Then turned, wind at my back, and surged toward shore, trying to kick my legs a little harder to prep for the run to transition.  

I swam until my hands were grabbing the sand, then jumped up and ran forward.  The extra kicking helped; my legs had more blood circulating through them and were quicker to respond as I ran into transition.  Unfortunately I just couldn't unzip my wetsuit!  I finally found the strap and yanked it off at my transition spot, then sunglasses on, helmet on, grab bike and run.  With my hip hurting I'm not able to do a flying mount, so I slowed down, mounted and off I went!  I tried to set a fast pace, using the sprint athletes ahead of me as encouragement to bike faster.  The first part of the bike goes straight into that lovely wind that I was now so familiar with from the swim, so I lowered my head and pushed hard.  I passed the sprint turnaround and found myself all alone.  I kept fighting the wind, checking my watts to make sure I was pushing hard enough.  But the wind and being alone were starting to wear on me.  Just as I felt my pace faltering, the two lead men from the age group Olympic passed me and sparked some life back into me.  I pushed hard to keep them in sight and to keep my pace up.  I followed them to the Olympic turn around and they may have been a little surprised to see me not that far behind!  I kept them in sight until we turned right into the hills, then I knew I had to back down and keep to my watts.  The bike course seemed like it only ever went up with two very steep downhills.  I made sure to take in my GU and the Generation UCan I had mixed in a squeeze bottle.  I needed all the energy I could get for the hills!  

After what seemed like an endless number of hills, I finally reached the turn back onto the flats and into transition.  I pushed hard, zipping along at about 25 mph trying to clock a faster bike split than last year.  I knew with a slower swim due to the rough water it would be even harder to beat my time from last year.  I was pleased when I pulled into transition with a faster bike split than last year!  Now I just needed to hold on during the run.  Well, as soon as I turned the corner and started up the hill I knew that would be a daunting task.  After a few steps up the hill my quads seized.  No!  Not yet!  I wasn't even a mile into the run, how was I going to hold a good pace with my quads cramped?  Ok, focus, just think about form and take it 1 mile at a time.  I focused on a quick cadence and, although the cramping was constant, found myself moving through the first loop at a good clip.  I hit mile 3 and realized that if I pushed this pace, I could, just maybe, meet my goal.  But loop number 2 was coming up and I had to face that long climb... I turned into the hill, tucked my ribs, checked my cadence, pushed my arms and let my mind drift, trying to push the pain to the back of my mind.  Then I was up the hill.  

I continued that way, allowing my mind to go to a trance-like place through mile 4, then mile 5.  At some point, I thought, my hip will start hurting too.  I pushed that thought back and just kept moving, focusing on my breathing now as I cleared everything else out of my mind.  Finally I was rounding the last corner.  I checked my watch, it would be very close to get under 2:15, but it was still possible.  I picked up my pace and took the final turn toward the finish.  I saw the clock rolling over, too close to 2:15, I would be over.  They had announced at the beginning of the race that the run course was 0.1 miles long and I had forgotten to add that into my time, oops!  I crossed in 2:15:05, good enough for 1st Overall.  Then my quads finally gave out and my legs wobbled, giving me the appearance of a newborn fawn as I stumbled to a chair.  But I had done it!  That was faster than last year!  I waved good bye to my little demons and don't come back!

Crossing the finish line with a new PR on this course!

I was also happy to see some local tri-buddies at this race!  Of course my favorite fans, my hubby and my dad raced.  My hubby, Todd, raced the sprint as he was still feeling pretty worn down from Chicago and the demanding season.  He had a great race and finished 1st Overall!  My dad battled the water, the hilly bike course and the hilly run to place 2nd in his age group in the Olympic!  Kim Albin from the Lansing Triathlon Team had a great race as well and finished 3rd Overall in the Olympic.  A fellow resident physician, Kyle Snell, had the fastest run in his age group and finished 4th in his age group in the Olympic.  I also finally met Tara Daparto, who I have raced with multiple times on the west side of Michigan, and she had a great racing, taking 1st Overall in the Sprint.  From the Oak Park YMCA Tri Team, Michelle Brittain also had a great race, finished 2nd in her age group in the Sprint.  And I saw more Oakie Blue out there and congrats to everyone who raced!  It was also very cool to meet William Jones, an incredibly fast pro triathlete who finished in a blistering 1:55:48 to take 1st Overall.  

Just a quick word about this race.  First of all, the Boyne City Triathlon is an amazing race in an amazing venue.  The swim course, when not super windy, is a fun two loop right next to a marina.  The bike course is scenic when it is flat and, for the Olympic course, it is awesome and challenging with the hills.  The run takes you through neighborhoods and downtown Boyne City, as well as along the water.  In addition, TriToFinish is an incredible company and they always put on great races.  They have quality equipment to help put on great races, with big arches marking transition and a very fun finish line.  Not only do they have great equipment, but they also take complimentary finisher photos and provided amazing post race food with 3 food trucks!  The Boyne City Triathlon is also hosted by Team Lucky 7, which raises money to fight Neurologic Disease, and the proceeds from this race are donated to help fight neurologic disease.  Last year they raised $5,000 for Multiple Sclerosis.  So add this one to your to-do list next to that ice bucket challenge!  This is an amazing race, an amazing company, an amazing venue and an amazing cause, so please consider racing the Boyne City Triathlon next year!  It will be the Sunday before Labor Day, so mark your calendars!  

Looking forward to next week is a local favorite of mine, Reeds Lake!  Then a quick training block before heading down to Texas to race those big dogs at Galveston 5150.  Thanks for reading and Happy Training!

Cheesing it up with William Jones and the founder of Team Lucky 7.